I recently acquired an M&P model 1905 in 38 special. It has a 5 inch barrel. The serial number is 5148XX. S&W said it was made in the early 1930's. Comparing that to similar numbers on this forum, your are saying that it likely would be made earlier than that. Any comment?

Probably around 1930

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

I would think 1924-1925 if no letter prefix.

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Randy

Randy is correct. It most likely shipped in 1925, perhaps as early as 1924. 531xxx shipped in February, 1926.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I checked the serial numbers and they all match in all four places. (the fourth being in pencil under the grips. I paid less than $100 for it. It is about 70 or 80%. with most of the wear from holstering. It came with a police style holster from about the '40s. It looks like it was loaded and unloaded a lot based on wear. I'm thinking it was an old police gun. I got it from an old farmer who used it for killing pigs for saluter. The rifling is very sharp indicating it hasn't been shot much. Mechanically if is very sound and functions great. I was thinking on lettering it, but with such a common gun, I don't know what I'll learn. Any comments on this?

By paying for a letter you'll double your investment, but not necessarily the value.

I wouldn't.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

I'd bet the numbers match in the two places you missed too!

Look on the inside of the extractor star. Then look on the back edge of the yoke (you will have to use a flashlight and look down through one of the charge holes to see this one).

I agree with Bob. A letter probably isn't worth the $100 price for a common revolver with 20% to 30% of the finish worn off.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

First, there isn't a letter with the serial number, so maybe 1925 is the ship date. As for lettering, I guess my curiosity isn't worth the $100 on this one. I'm in the process of cleaning it. I usually remove the yoke and cylinder as part of this process every few cleanings on S&W revolvers. I bet this yoke hasn't been out of this gun for 50 years. On a 5 screw gun like these, do you just remove the screw above the trigger or do you have to remove the screw in front of the trigger guard too?

Yes. The front sideplate screw releases the yoke.

No. That one retains the cylinder stop plunger and spring. Unless you plan a complete disassembly, leave that one alone.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Here are the known serial numbers that I have in that range:

482xxx Feb 1925
501xxx May 1925
506xxx Mar 1925
528xxx Jan 1926
545xxx Jul 1926

So, I'd put 514xxx somewhere later in 1925 or early in 1926. With all of the usual caveats about guns not shipping in order of serial number, etc.

Mike

Without digging into the books I would mention something else to consider, and that is the possible presence of the spring and detent (cylinder hold open). I just don't remember when that was discontinued.

Attached Images

IMG_0375 (2).jpg (92.5 KB, 12 views)

IIRC that was phased out in the teens. I wouldn't expect it on a late 20's gun.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

Yours probably shipped sometime during the second half of 1925. Personally, I have better uses for my $100 than ordering a letter, which is highy unlikely to provide any more information than the exact shipping date and to whatever distributor or retailer it was first shipped. It will definitely not tell you that was used by Al Capone.

Wouldn't that be fun if Al or one of the G-men had used this gun. Somehow, I think all those have been accounted for and in museums somewhere. Based on where this came from (area), I suspect it may have been a police issue at some point, used little but holstered a lot. Then a farmer bought it for shooting pigs.

And on the other hand, I bought a gun from a fellow who'd owned it for 10 years------and never lettered it because (Insert your favorite excuse for not lettering common old S&W's here.).

And then I lettered it because I letter each and every one (60 some-odd and counting for the last 25+ years). Here's what the letter said (omitting the recipient's name because rubbing salt in folk's wounds ain't nice): "---------------your handgun----was shipped from our factory---------and delivered to Mr. So&So. This revolver was shipped on an advertising account at no charge to Mr. So&So. This is a very important revolver."

So----------do you have "a very important revolver"----or two----or three---or more? Your answer is "I don't know.",---------------unless you letter each and every one!

Ralph Tremaine

The old revolver served two great services. Safety and providing bacon
for our table. Well done old 1905. You have earned a place of respect.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member